Nail and tack holder and finger guard



May 16,1944. l. D. DAvls l 2,348,962

NAIL AND TACK HOLDER AND FINGER GUARD Filed April 18, 1942 IINYENTOR Patented May 16, 1944 NAIL AND TACK HOLDER AND FINGER GUARD Ira D. Davis, Avery.v Tex.

Application April 18, 1942, Serial No. 439,581

5 Claims.

This invention relates to finger protectors and it has particular reference to a combination nail and tack holder and finger guard.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a thimble adapted to be slipped onto the end of a finger of one hand as a protection for the ringer against injury as by striking with a hammer in driving a nail and which thimble is provided on its end with means for holding a nail or tack preparatory to driving.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character set forth which will be comfortably borne on the iinger while working and is so constructed and arranged that a quantity of nails or tacks may be held in the palm of the hand and transferred singly to the holding elements of the device by the companion fingers of the same hand and, before the initial blow or blows, the fingers are withdrawn, the thimble protecting the remaining finger until the nail is started, whereupon it also is withdrawn.

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the invention has further reference to certain features of accomplishment, to become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention as mounted on the finger.

Figure 2 is a view of the device in longitudinal section.

Figure 3 is a side elevational View thereof.

Figure 4 is an end view on line fl-d on Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional View on line 5-5 on Figure 2.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawing, reference is primarily made to Figures l to 5 inclusive wherein the thimble Ill is shown as being constructed of a sleeve of corrugated metal. It is understood that the sleeve may constitu a plain cylindrical body but in order to reduce weight and yet provide strength and resistance to hammer blows, lighter material may be used but corrugated as shown.

1n the form of invention exemplified in these figures, one end of the shell or thimble Ill is so formed as to provide a tab II which extends from the end of the shell and is turned abruptly downward over the otherwise open end. As a support or protection for this tab, opposed eX- tensons l2 protrude from the sides of the sleeve on either side of the tab as shown so that, if the hammer strikes the end of the sleeve Ill, the extensions I2 will deflect the blow and prevent damage to the tab.

Conversely, the tab 55 prevents bending down of the extensions when subjected to hammer blows.

The arrangement and relationship of the tab II and extensions I2 provides a protective armor for a leaf spring I3 which serves the dual purpose of providing avnail holding means as well as a means for retaining the thimble Ill on the finger. In Figure 2 particularly it will be observed that a split ring I4 is provided to embrace the iinger inserted into the thimble and is an integral part of the leaf spring I3 which is fixed by means of rivets I5 to the wall of the thimble Iii and is bent abruptly into flush relationship with the inner wall of the tab I I, thence downwardly and inwardly to lie against and extend slightly beyond a transverse, nail receiving recess IS. in the end of the thimble. The nail (Fig. l) in being thrust into the recess I6, urges the spring I3 outward which will return and bear against the nail to hold the same firmly while it is placed in position for striking by a hammer. The tab II functions as a stop for the spring.

In Figure 1 it will be noted that the underside of the thimble I0 is flattened at a and it is over this surface that the nail is rolled by the thumb, after having been transferred thereon from the palm of the hand or other source.

From the foregoing it is apparent that a nail may be conveniently placed onto the surface a of the thimble, which serves to guide the same as it is rolled into position in the groove or recess IS. By turning the hand, the nail Il is properly positioned relative to the Work and the unprotected fingers are withdrawn. After one or two starting blows with a hammer, the hand on which the guard is carried may be withdrawn and, as the nail is driven home, the other hand may be occupied with the arranging of another nail in the holder preparatory to positioning and driving.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modification and such modication as may be construed to fall within i the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered to be within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination finger protection and nail holder comprising a thimble receivable on and enclosing the end of a finger of the hand and having a attened surface along one side parallel with its' longitudinal axis, and means mounted on the end of said thimble and in alinement with said flattened surface for receiving and holding a nail for orientation relative to the work preparatory to driving. v

2. A protective thimble and nail holder comprising a reinforced, cylindrical shell adapted to be retained on and entirely embrace the end of a nger of the hand, and provided with means on its end for receiving and temporarily clamping a nail preparatory to driving.

3. A protective thimble and nail holder including a reinforced, cylindrical shell, means Within the shell for retaining the same on the end of a nger of the hand, and means carried by the end of said shell and capable of receiving and temporarily holding a nail or like element preparatory to driving.

4. A protective thimble and nail holder including cylindrical shell having walls reinforced to resist hammer blows and provided with means to retain the same on a finger of the hand, said shell further having an exterior flattened surface 1ongitudinally along one side thereof, means mounted on the end of said shell having a nail receiving groove therein aligned with said flattened surface to receive nails from said surface, and means attending said latter means for retaining a nail in a groove preparatory to driving.

5. A protective thimble and holder for nails and the like including a cylindrical body conforming to and embracing the end of a finger of the hand, means for retaining said thimble on the nger and means carried upon the end of said thimble to receive and temporarily clamp a, nail preparatory to driving the same.

IRA D. DAVIS. 

